Selling a 'vert in winter? Thoughts?

[87Blue325iC]

Really starting to think about selling my E30. It is no longer a daily driver and while I still love it, I could use the cash and the freed up garage space to park the daily driver in out of the cold. Being winter in Ohio it isn't exactly convertible season. I've always heard selling a 'vert in anything but the spring/summer months is a bad idea because you won't get maximum sales price out of the car.

Anyone have any thoughts on this? Should I wait until spring? If I use eBay and can reach different regions of the country where weather doesn't play a factor then does it matter?

Also - no idea what to value my car at with all that has been done to it...

[daniel]

if i were you, i would wait until spring/summer if you can.

that will also give you a chance to think about it long and hard.

[Stevie30]

I would not be afraid to buy one during an ice storm.

[Jon325i]

if i were you, i would wait until spring/summer if you can.

that will also give you a chance to think about it long and hard.

This is good advice. A few years back a friend of mine was trying to unload an Audi TT Roadster in December/January. He ran ads on Craigslist, AutoTrader, Cars.com.....but it just didn't budge. He gave up selling it than ran some ads just before Memorial Day weekend as the top-down motoring weather was beginning. The car was sold within a week.

My


Jon

[OrganicMechanic]

Not to mention that most people are focused on the holidays right now and not looking for personal purchases.

[femme325is]

definitely wait. I used to flip VW cabbys and I always held onto them until warmer weather. Not only because you get more for them, but most buyers of convertibles know they can get a cheap deal in the winter and expect it.

[Alkasquawlik]

I think it also depends on where you live, like you said, Ohio winters most likely wouldnt be the best. If you lived in Socal it might be a different story.
Unless you're really strapped for cash I'd hold onto it until March or so and if you still want to sell it then put some ads up.

[VacMan]

definitely wait. I used to flip VW cabbys and I always held onto them until warmer weather. Not only because you get more for them, but most buyers of convertibles know they can get a cheap deal in the winter and expect it.

Quoted for win.

[MacBudd541]

i've been trying to sell my vert ever since it got cold and havent got a real bite. i know i could get way more in the summer and i may just have to wait for that.

[cactusjacks1]

Aaron,
It's just like trying to sell a ski boat in the winter - not usually a lot of interest.

That being said, if you really want to sell, I think your car may be an exception to the rule. It has a lot of very desirable things that have either been done to it or go with it. It fit's more of a specialty car niche, & the buyer that wants one of these is not looking in just the spring/summer months.

Create a very detailed ad with lots of photos & put it on Texas, Arizona, California & Florida Craigslist. Put an ad in Roundel. The right car with the right ad will bring top $$ year round & your car probably fits that description.

All the above applies to normal economic times & we aren't there. New & used car sales volume is in the toilet so a LOT of potential buyers have been taken out of the market. Spending a considerable sum on a 20+ year old car, that requires an all cash outlay (no financing) is a pretty tall order for the buyer-seller match to take place. You want exposure for your car & i'm sure others on this board have some workable ideas. Avoid terms like "must sell" "need the $$" "interests changed" "girl friend says its got to go". Those terms are like a little blood in the water, brings out all the sharks & bottom feeders (more than a few on this board) & low, low ball offers overflow your PM box. Ask yourself, what doesn't work when trying to sell a car like mine. Theirs a red cabrio on this board that's been for sale for almost a year. Nice car, but hasn't sold in either winter or summer - ask yourself why - what are they doing that I want to avoid?

GL with your sale, i've always loved your car!!